Multiple speed change gear, especially for motor vehicles



Dec. 29, v1942. T.,KMM1H 2,306,545

MULTIPLE SPEED CHANGE GEAR,IESPECIALLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed vJuly 9, 1938 :7. A il g ///////ll/l//l///////// n//////l1/ll//llll/////// n l n 44- SYM I ATroREY Patented Dec. 29, 1942 MULTPLE SPEED CHANGE GEAR, ESPE- CIALLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Theodor Kiimmich, Stuttgart, Germany; vested in the Alien' Property Custodian Application 16 Claims.

This invention relates to a multiple speed change gear, especially for motor vehicles with at least three parallel shafts and consists substantially in that, atleast two speeds have mutually independent transmission steps for the drive from the driving shaft to the driven shaft over the intermediary shaft. The invention has for 'its object to provide an advantageous arrangement of gear wheels in such a manner that the dimensions of the gear are as small as possible even when vemploying a large number of gear steps and at the same time an easy changing is possible. The gear is particularly suitable for direct fitting with a compensating gear which is preferably arranged on thedriven shaft. The compensating gear may at the same time serve for the drive of the pair of wheels of one axle or inparticularly advantageous manner for the distribution of the drive to both axles of a motor vehicle with four wheel drive.

These advantages are d ue primarily to the fact that for some speeds the gears on the driving shaft for instance are freely rotatable and I gear is divided by partition 20 into two chamy may be locked to the shaft by means of clutches.'

Moreover, these gears are in constant mesh with a corresponding number of gears'on the intermediate shaft, while the remaining speeds are obtained by shifting rotatable and loosely mounted gears into orout of engagement with their corresponding gears.

Other advantages of the invention will be described in detail in the following description.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the .accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the gear,

Fig. 2 is a section on line A, B, C, D, E, F,

Fig. 3 shows a detail of the gear in elevation.

In the drawing I is the driving shaft, 2 the intermediate shaft and 3 the driven shaft which,

as hereinafter described, is at the same time constructed as differential of a compensating gear. Gear wheels 4, 5, 6 and 1 are rotatably hand they are in permanent mesh with gear wheels 8, 9, Ill and I I rigidly keyed on the intermediate shaft, oblique teeth 'being preferably used, and on the other hand `they have claw teeth I2, I3, I4, I5 which serve for coupling the gear wheels'with the driving shaft. For this purpose coupling sleeves I6, I1 are provided which are secured against rotation but shiftable on the driving shaft by means of keys I8 and I9, and, according to whether theyare shifted tothe July 9, 1938, Serial No. 218,336 Germany July 12, 1937 right or left, can be coupled with the claws I2 to I5 by means of their keys.

As shown in the drawing, the change speed bers 2| and 22, the above mentioned gear wheels being arranged in the chamberZI. The driving shaft I and the intermediate shaft 2 are, however, Vextended. beyond the partition 20 and through the chamber 22. Gear wheels ,23 and 24 are non-slidablyL and non-rotatably mounted on the extension of the shaft I whereas a sleeve 25 is loosely rotatable and shiftable on the extension of the shaft 2, and carries the gear wheels 26, 21 and 28. Onanother shaft, not shown in the drawing, another gear Wheel 29 is arranged which serves in the usual way for transmitting the -reverse speed and permanently meshes with the gear wheel 24,., effected more partrc/ularlyfbyprovding a further shaft with a/gear wheel rotatably mounted thereon Vand in permanentl engagement -with`a further rigidly connected gear wheel on the driving shaft, furthermore-providing means to engage and disengage the latter gear wheel with a further rigidly connected gear wheel on a rotatableland shiftable sleeve on the intermediate shaft, said sleeve having a further rigidly connected gear wheel. Finally means are provided to engage and disengage this latter gear wheel with a rigidlyconnected gear wheel on the driven shaft.

Two gear wheels 30 and 3| are also rigidly connected on the driven shaft 3, the gear wheel 30 meshing permanently with the gear wheel Il, Whereas the gear wheel 3| can be brought selectively into mesh with the gears 21 and 28 vby shifting the sleeve 25. If the gear wheels 28 and 3| are intercoup'led an engagement takes place at the same time between^theFgea`r wheels is'constructed as a diierential. Through the intermediary of bevel Wheels 32, 33, 34 and 35 it drives the "two drivlnge'shafts 36 and 31, the f shaft 3B driving-for example the front Wheels through the intermediary of an intermediatel clutch 38 and a Cardan shaft 39, whereas the shaft 31 drives the rear Wheels through the intermediaryof a clutch 40 and a' Cardan shaft 4|.

The differential -gear is constructedas lockable compensating equalizing gear. For this purpose claws 42.are provided on the shaft 31 and can be engaged with the claws of a clutch sleeve 43 which is provided shiftably but non-rotatably on the driven shaft 3 constructed as a hollow shaft. A lever 44 serves for shifting the clutch sleeve and locking the differential gear, this sleeve, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, being adjustable by a lever 50 through the intermediary of a shaft 45, a bell crank lever 46, an interposed spring 41, a second ball crank lever 48 and a shaft 49.

The control of the gear is effected by a gear lever 5I which can shift the three change sleeves 52, 53 and 54 in a manner known per se. The change sleeve 52 engages by means of a fork 55 the gear groove in the clutch sleeve I6, whereas the change sleeve 53 engages by means of a fork 56 the gear groove of the clutch sleeve I1.

Furthermore the change sleeve 54 is articulated to a two-armed lever 59 by a rod system 51, this lever being mounted in the casing at 58and serving for shifting thesleeve 25 with the gear wheels 26, 21`and 28.

In idle running position the driving shaft I connected with the engine is practically entirely free from rotating masses, as the gear wheels 4, 5, 6 and 1 are loosely mounted on the shaft. Only the small gear wheels 23 and 24 and the reverse gear wheel 29 rotate with the driving speed, with the result that the distance between the driving shaft and the intermediate shaft 2 can be less than would otherwise be possible. If, for example, the transmission Wheel 26 arranged on the intermediate shaft for the rst v 426 considerably larger than the gear wheel II in order to obtain the corresponding ratio of shaft I.` However, a disengagement of the reverse gear wheel 29 for the idle running may be provided if desired.

The' following operations are provided for the different speeds:

1st speed- The change sleeve 54 is (according to Fig. 1) shifted towards the left. Thus, through the intermediary of the two-armed lever 59, the sleeve 25 is shifted to the right with the result that the gear-wheel 26 cornes into mesh with the gear wheel 23 and'the gear wheel 28 with the gear wheel 3|. The first speed is then formed by the parts I-'23-26-25-283 I-3.

Reserve speed-The reverse speed is engaged in a similar way by shifting the change sleeve 54 to the right, viz., the sleeve 25 to the left, with the result that the gear wheels 26 and 29 on the'one hand and 21 and 3I on the other hand are brought into mesh. The drive in this instance takes place by means of the elements I-2 4-2 9-26--21-3 I-3.

2nd speed-The change sleeve 53 is shifted Y towards the right with the result that the clutch the claws I3. The drive in this case takes placeY ,Y

5th speed-The change sleeve 52 is shifted towards the left and the clutch I6 coupled with the claws I2. by the parts I--I6-I2-4-8-2-I I-3Il-3.

As can be seen, the driving transmission in the first and reverse speeds is entirely independentof those in the second and fifth speeds. This arrangement possesses the advantage that also the gear wheels for the first speed can be dimensioned independently of the gear wheels of the other forward speeds, for example of the second transmission in the first speed. This, however, would be impossible without considerably increasing the distance between the driving shaft and the intermediate shaft. Thus, the entire gear would be much larger and heavier. By the independent drive transmission in the first and reverse speeds on the one hand and in the higher transmission stages on the other hand, this objection is entirely avoided. y

It is alsov particularly advantageous for the changing of the gear that the gear wheels arranged on the driving shaft are partly loosely mounted thereon and partly constructed as gear wheels which can be brought into engagement by shifting. Thus, the vmass of the gear part connected with the engine or with the engine clutch is reduced to a minimum, so that changing of gears can take place without diiculty even with viscous gear oil. As moreover only the first and reverse speeds are obtained by means of shiftable gears, whereas the other higher transmission speeds chiefly to be engagedv in the travelling service are formed by permanently meshing gear wheels (preferably with` helical teeth), a good quiet running of the gear is ensured. The fact that the shafts I and 2 are Yadditionally journalled in the partition 20 also The transmission is then formed contributes to this. The shafts preferably run in roller or ball bearings which, however, have been omitted from the drawing for the sake of clearness.

The changing is further facilitated by the use of the claw clutches I6 and I1 which, if desired, might also be provided with oblique toothed repulse claw clutches which are brought into engagement withcorresponding claws on the gear wheels 41.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to` be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. A change speed transmission comprising a driving shaft, an intermediate shaft and a drivenv shaft, a first gear disposed on said driving shaft and adapted to rotate independently of the driving shaft, means for locking said first gear to the driving shaft, a second gear fast on said driving shaft, a third gear fast on said intermediate shaft and adapted to mesh with said first gear, a fourth gear freely rotatable and eshiftableph/said intermediate shaft and adapted to mesh with said second gear, a fifth gear on the driven shaft in mesh with said third gear, a sixth gear on the driven shaft adapted to cooperate with said fourth gear, said fourthgear being adapted to be shifted into simultaneous position of said shiftable fourth gear `and'said locking means.

2. The device claimed in claim 1, comprising a seventh gear fast on said driving shaft. and a reverse gear in mesh therewith, said reverse gear being adapted to mesh with said fourth gear.

3. The device claimed in claim 1, which comprises a seventh gear fast on said driving shaft. and a reverse gear in mesh therewith, said reverse gear being adapted to mesh with said fourth gear,and in which said first, third and 1 fifth gears are in constant'mesh, and said fourth gear, which is freely rotatable and shiftable on said intermediate shaft is adapted for cooperation with the second and reverse gears, respectively.

4. The device claimed in claim 1, in which a plurality of gears are loosely mounted on said driving shaft and a corresponding nimber of gears in mesh therewith are provided on said intermediate shaft, and `further means for locking said loose gears on the driving shaft.

mediate gear, a second driven 'gear adapted to be driven by said second intermediate gear, first means for connecting said drivingshaft and said first driving, first intermediate and first driven gears, to interlock the same for power transmission from the first driving gear to the first driven gear, or for releasing the same for idling; and second means for connectingthe driving shaft and said second driving, second intermediate and second driven gears to interlock the same for power transmission from the second driving gear to said second driven gear or for releasing the same for idling; whereby power is transmitted either over said first gear or said second gears, depending upon actuation of said iirst or second connecting means.

6. The device claimed in claim 5, in which said rst and .second driven gears form a. unit.

7. The device claimed in'claim 5, in which said second .intermediate gear is adapted for relative movement with respect to said second driving and second driven gears.`

8. A change speed transmission comprising a driving shaft, a first intermediate member, a sec-.

ond intermediate member axially aligned to s'aid first intermediate shaft and independently rotat` able with respect to the latter, a driven shaft, a rst gear disposed on said driving shaft, a second gear on said driving shaft, a third gear on said first intermediate member and adapted to vgear to the third gear to the fifth gear, on the one hand, and from the second gear to the fourth gear to the sixth gear, on the other hand.

9. A change speed transmission according to claim 8 in combination with a seventhgear on with said iirst gear for obtaining said transmission step from said iirst gear by means of the seventh gear and the third gear to the iifth gear, and an eighth gear on said second intermediate member adapted to mesh with the sixth gear for obtaining said other transmission step independently from said first transmission step from said second gear by means of said fourth gear and said eighth gear to said sixth gear.

10. The device claimed in claim 8, which comprises a seventh gear fast on said driving shaft, and a reverse gear inmesh therewith, said reverse gear being adapted to mesh with said fourth gear, and in which said first, third and fifth gears are in constant mesh, and said fourth gear, which is freely rotatable and shiftable with respect to said first intermediate member, is adapted for cooperation with the second and reverse gars, respectively.

11. A change speed transmission according to claim 8 in combination with at least a further pair of gears in mesh with one another, one of said gears arranged on theidriving shaft and the other one on the -said first intermediate member.

' 12. A change speed transmission comprising a driving shaft, a first intermediate member, a second yintermediate member axially aligned to said first vintermediate member and.independ ently rotatable to the latter, a driven shaft, rst gears on said driving shaft,- iirst gears arranged on said first intermediate member and adapted to mesh with said first ygears on said driving shaft for effecting diiferent transmission ratios, a first gear on said driven shaft and adapted to mesh with one of said iirst gears on said first intermediate member, at least one additional gear on said driving shaft, at least one gear on said second intermediate member and adapted to mesh the iirst intermediate member adapted to mesh with said additional gear on said driving shaft, an additional gear on said second intermediate member non-rotatably coupled with the said firstgear on said second intermediatemember, but independently rotatable with respect to the first gears on the first intermediate member, an

.additional gear on the driven shaft and adapted to mesh with said additional gear on said second intermediate member, whereby two independent transmission steps are obtained, power being transmitted from the said iirst gears on the driving shaft by means of the first gears on the iirst y intermediate member to the said rst`gear on the driven shaft on theone hand, and from the said additional gear on the driving shaft by means of the gears on the second intermediate gxkilember to the said additional gear on the driven aft.

13. A change speed transmission according to claim 12, in which the said first gears on the driving shaft and the rst gears on thefrst intermediate member constantly mesh with one another, one gear of each pair of meshing gears being fast on its shaft, with means for coupling the other one of said gears with its shaft, one of said additional gears on said driving shaft and'on said second intermediate member being formed. as shiftable gears and being shiftable to interengage with the said additional gear on the driven shaft. l

14.v A change speed transmission according` to claim l2, in which the said first gears on the driving shaft, the gears on the iirst intermediate member and the said rst gear on the driven shaft are so dimensioned as to define the higher speeds and in which the said additional gear on the driving shaft, the gears on the second intermediate member and said additional gear on the least one lower speed.

15. A change speed transmission according to 4 claim 12, in which the said first gears on the driving shaft, the gears on the ilrst intermediate member, and the said first gear on the driven shaft are so dimensioned as to dene the higher speeds and in which saidl -additional gear on said second intermediate member has a lesser diameter than said other gear on said second intermediate member and in which said additional gear .on said driven shaft has a larger diameter than said rst gear on said driven shaft.

16. A change speed transmission comprising a driving shaft, a iirst intermediate member, a second intermediate member axially aligned with said first intermediate member and independently rotatable with respect to the latter, a driven member, a first gear disposed on said driving shaft, a second gear on said driving shaft, ya

third gear on said first intermediate member and adapted to cooperate with said iirst gear, aiourth gear on said second intermediate member independently rotatable with respect to said third gear and adapted to mesh with said .second gear, a fthfgear on the driven member adapted to mesh with said third gear, a sixth gear on the driven member adapted tocooperate with said fourthil gear, whereby two independent transmission steps are obtained, power being transmitted from the first gear to the third gear to the fifth gear, on the one hand, and from the second gear to the fourth gear to the sixth gear on the other hand, said driven member forming a diiferential supporting body, a differential gear carried by said body,l two driven shafts, a complementary gear on each shaft cooperating with said differential gear, said differential and complementary gears transmitting power from said driven supporting body to said driven shafts.

THEoDoR KMMICH.A 

